Modular mobile safety structure for containment and handling of hazardous materials

Abstract

A mobile safety structure for the storing and handling of containers of hrdous materials comprising multiple modular storage units. The modular storage units may be configured in tandem to form one embodiment of the modular mobile safety structure. In this configuration access between the interiors of adjacent modular storage units is provided by a bellows which is connected to and removable from a bellows support frame in a side wall of each modular storage unit. The modular storage units may also be configured in a stacked arrangement to form an alternate embodiment of the modular mobile safety structure. In this configuration access between the interiors of the stacked modular storage units is provided through an opening between units in the stack. A pull down safety ladder affixed to the roof assembly of all units except the top unit in the stack allows the user to gain access to each unit in the stack of modular storage units. Each modular storage unit includes a secondary containment feature in the form of a base assembly having a containment pan. The base assembly also provides a framework for supporting a floor of removable grating which allows access to the containment pan. Each modular storage unit further comprises front, rear and side walls and a roof of very sturdy construction employing interior and outer surface steel panels supported by a generally rectangular shaped tubular steel framework for each wall and the roof of the mobile safety structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular mobile safety structure for housing containers of hazardous materials and providing sump-type secondary containment for receiving spillage and leakage of said hazardous materials from said containers that are housed within said modular mobile safety structure, said modular mobile safety structure comprising: (a) first and second modular storage units, said first modular storage unit being positioned adjacent said second modular storage unit and secured thereto to form a tandem arrangement of modular storage units for treatment and handling of said hazardous materials, said first and said second modular storage units each comprising: (i) a rectangular shaped base assembly including a framework of a welded assembly of steel components, said framework of said base assembly comprising: (A) a pair of front and rear support members and a pair of side support members that are arranged end to end to define a rectangular shaped structure, a first group of four corner fittings having first and second orthogonally disposed sides, a top portion and a bottom portion, each end of each of said side support members being attached to the first side of a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings and each end of each of said front and rear support members being attached to the second side of a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings;   (B) a pair of inverted T channel support members disposed substantially parallel to said front and rear support members, one end of each of said inverted T channel support members being attached to one of said side support members and an opposite end of each of said inverted T channel support members being attached the other of said side support members, each of said inverted T channel support members having a base channel member and a floor support channel member mounted on a top portion of said base channel member;   (C) first and second floor support members respectively attached to an inner side of said front support member and an inner side of said rear support member;   (D) a first generally rectangular shaped steel plate mounted on a bottom portion of said front, rear and side support members and a bottom portion of the base channel support member of said pair inverted T channel support members wherein said first generally rectangular shaped steel plate mates with said front, rear and side support members forming a substantially rectangular open secondary container that is leakproof, said open secondary container receiving spillage and leakage of said hazardous materials from said containers that are housed within each of said first and said second modular storage units;   (E) a removable grating type floor supported by said base assembly and resting upon said first and said second floor support members and the floor support channel members of said pair of inverted T channel support members, said removable grating type floor extending substantially horizontally atop said open secondary container;     (ii) inner and outer side walls extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly, a rear wall extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly and a front wall extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly, one end of each of said inner and said outer side walls being secured to a separate one of the opposed ends of said front wall and the other end of each of said inner and said outer side walls being secured to a separate one of the opposed ends of said rear wall to form a rectangular shaped assembly of upstanding walls;   (iii) a rectangular shaped roof mounted atop said rectangular shaped assembly of upstanding walls and extending horizontally over an interior space that is defined between said front and rear walls and between said inner and said outer side walls;   (iv) each of said front, said rear and said inner and said outer side walls and said roof comprising: (A) a rectangular shaped framework of structural steel support members, at least one outer wall panel mounted to an outer surface of said rectangular shaped framework, an inner wall panel mounted to an inner surface of said rectangular shaped framework, a pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board sandwiched between said at least one outer wall panel and said inner wall panel, said pair of stack sheets of gypsum board being secured to said inner wall panel, and a fiberglass insulation material interposed between said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board and said at least one outer wall panel;   (B) said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board within each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof providing for a fire rating of at least four hours for said modular mobile safety structure and said fiberglass insulation material allowing said modular mobile safety structure to be adapted for use under varying climatic conditions;   (C) the rectangular shaped framework of said roof having a second group of four corner fittings wherein a first and a second of said second group of four corner fittings are positioned at a top edge region of the inner side wall of said first and said second modular storage units   (D) a first and a second of said first group of four corner fittings being positioned in proximity with a bottom end region of the inner side wall of said first and said second modular storage units;       (b) a first pair of container conlinks for coupling the first and the second of said second group of four corner fittings of said first modular storage unit to the first and the second of said second group of four corner fittings of said second modular storage unit;   (c) a second pair of container conlinks for coupling the first and the second of said first group of four corner fittings of said first modular storage unit to the first and the second of said first group of four corner fittings of said second modular storage unit;   (d) said inner side wall of said first and said second modular storage units having a bellows support frame, the bellows support frame of the inner side wall of said first modular storage unit being aligned with the bellows support frame of the inner side wall of said second modular storage unit when said first modular storage unit is positioned adjacent said second modular storage unit to form said tandem arrangement of modular storage units; and   (e) a bellows having one end thereof connected to the bellows support frame of the inner side wall of said first modular storage unit and an opposite end thereof connected to the bellows support frame of the inner side wall of said second modular storage unit, said bellows allowing access between said first modular storage unit and said second modular storage, said bellows being removable from the bellows support frame of the inner side wall of said first and said second modular storage units.   
     
     
       2. The modular mobile safety structure of claim 1 further comprising a rectangular shaped door frame mounted within said front wall of each of said first and said second modular storage units, a door connected to said rectangular shaped door frame of each of said first and said second modular storage units and being movable relatively thereto for controlling access to an interior space within said first and said second modular storage units of said modular mobile safety structure. 
     
     
       3. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 further comprising four dual wheel casters, each of said four dual wheel casters being coupled to a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings of said base assembly of said first and said second modular storage units, said four dual wheel corner casters allowing a movement of said first and said second modular storage units of said modular mobile safety structure from a first location to a second location. 
     
     
       4. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 further comprising a tow bar coupled to two of said first group of four corner fittings for each of said first and said second modular storage units. 
     
     
       5. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 wherein said fiberglass insulation material comprises R-19 rated fiberglass insulation. 
     
     
       6. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 wherein said at least one panel of each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof is fabricated from 10 gauge steel plate. 
     
     
       7. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 wherein said inner wall panel of each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof is fabricated from 18 gauge steel plate. 
     
     
       8. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 further comprising means for securing said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board and said inner wall panel to the rectangular shaped framework of structural steel support members for each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof. 
     
     
       9. The mobile safety structure of claim 8 wherein said means for securing said gypsum type board and said inner wall panel comprises stainless steel self-tapping screws. 
     
     
       10. The mobile safety structure of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of stack sheets of gypsum board comprises a 3/4 inch of gypsum board. 
     
     
       11. A modular mobile safety structure for housing containers of hazardous materials and providing sump-type secondary containment for receiving spillage and leakage of said hazardous materials from said containers that are housed within said modular mobile safety structure, said modular mobile safety structure comprising: (a) first and second modular storage units, said second modular storage unit being positioned on top of said first modular storage unit and secured thereto to form a stacked arrangement of modular storage units for treatment and handling of said hazardous materials, said first and said second modular storage units each comprising: (i) a rectangular shaped base assembly including a framework of a welded assembly of steel components, said framework of said base assembly comprising: (A) a pair of front and rear support members and a pair of side support members that are arranged end to end to define a rectangular shaped structure, a first group of four corner fittings having first and second orthogonally disposed sides, a top portion and a bottom portion, each end of each of said side support members being attached to the first side of a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings and each end of each of said front and rear support members being attached to the second side of a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings;   (B) a pair of inverted T channel support members disposed substantially parallel to said front and rear support members, one end of each of said inverted T channel support members being attached to one of said side support members and an opposite end of each of said inverted T channel support members being attached the other of said side support members, each of said inverted T channel support members having a base channel member and a floor support channel member mounted on a top portion of said base channel member;   (C) first and second floor support members respectively attached to an inner side of said front support member and an inner side of said rear support member;   (D) a first generally rectangular shaped steel plate mounted on a bottom portion of said front, rear and side support members and a bottom portion of the base channel support member of said pair inverted T channel support members wherein said first generally rectangular shaped steel plate mates with said front, rear and side support members forming a substantially rectangular open secondary container that is leakproof, said open secondary container receiving spillage and leakage of said hazardous materials from said containers that are housed within each of said first and said second modular storage units;   (E) a removable grating type floor supported by said base assembly and resting upon said first and said second floor support members and the floor support channel members of said pair of inverted T channel support members, said removable grating type floor extending substantially horizontally atop said open secondary container;     (ii) first and second side walls extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly, a rear wall extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly and a front wall extending perpendicularly upward from said base assembly, one end of each of said side walls being secured to a separate one of the opposed ends of said front wall and the other end of each of said side walls being secured to a separate one of the opposed ends of said rear wall to form a rectangular shaped assembly of upstanding walls;   (iii) a rectangular shaped roof mounted atop said rectangular shaped assembly of upstanding walls and extending horizontally over an interior space that is defined between said front and rear walls and between said first and said second side walls;   (iv) each of said front, said rear and said first and said second side walls and said roof comprising: (A) a rectangular shaped framework of structural steel support members, at least one outer wall panel mounted to an outer surface of said rectangular shaped framework, an inner wall panel mounted to an inner surface of said rectangular shaped framework, a pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board sandwiched between said at least one outer wall panel and said inner wall panel, said pair of stack sheets of gypsum board being secured to said inner wall panel, and a fiberglass insulation material interposed between said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board and said at least one outer wall panel;   (B) said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board within each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof providing for a fire rating of at least four hours for said modular mobile safety structure and said fiberglass insulation material allowing said modular mobile safety structure to be adapted for use under varying climatic conditions;   (C) the rectangular shaped framework of said roof having a second group of four corner fittings, each of said second group of four corner fittings of said first modular storage unit being aligned with one of said first group of four corner fittings of said second modular storage unit;       (b) four twistlock stackers, each of said four twistlock stackers coupling one of said second group of four corner fittings of said first modular storage unit to an aligned one of said first group of four corner fittings of said second modular storage unit to secure said second modular storage unit to said first modular storage unit;   (c) a rectangular shaped ladder support frame located in the roof of said first modular storage unit and a pull down safety ladder affixed to said rectangular shaped ladder support frame; and   (d) a rectangular shaped secondary containment wall located in the rectangular shaped base assembly of said second modular storage unit, said rectangular shaped secondary containment wall being aligned with said rectangular shaped ladder support frame to form a passageway between said first modular storage unit and said second modular storage unit, said rectangular shaped secondary containment wall being an integral component of the open secondary container of said second modular storage unit to prevent said hazardous materials received by said open secondary container of said second modular storage unit from spilling into said passageway.   
     
     
       12. The modular mobile safety structure of claim 11 further comprising a rectangular shaped door frame mounted within said front wall of each of said first and said second modular storage units, a door connected to said rectangular shaped door frame of each of said first and said second modular storage units and being movable relatively thereto for controlling access to an interior space within said first and said second modular storage units of said modular mobile safety structure. 
     
     
       13. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 further comprising four dual wheel casters, each of said four dual wheel casters being coupled to a separate one of said first group of four corner fittings of said base assembly of said first and said second modular storage units, said four dual wheel corner casters allowing a movement of said first and said second modular storage units of said modular mobile safety structure from a first location to a second location. 
     
     
       14. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 further comprising a tow bar coupled to two of said first group of four corner fittings for each of said first and said second modular storage units. 
     
     
       15. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 wherein said fiberglass insulation material comprises R-19 rated fiberglass insulation. 
     
     
       16. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 wherein said at least one panel of each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof is fabricated from 10 gauge steel plate. 
     
     
       17. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 wherein said inner wall panel of each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof is fabricated from 18 gauge steel plate. 
     
     
       18. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 further comprising means for securing said pair of stack sheets of gypsum type board and said inner wall panel to the rectangular shaped framework of structural steel support members for each of said front, rear and side walls and said roof. 
     
     
       19. The mobile safety structure of claim 18 wherein said means for securing said gypsum type board and said inner wall panel comprises stainless steel self-tapping screws. 
     
     
       20. The mobile safety structure of claim 11 wherein each of said pair of stack sheets of gypsum board comprises a 3/4 inch of gypsum board.